Following a surprise and hugely-successful appearance at a private outdoor festival north of Chichester in August, Staa Marx will be unleashing their brand of powerful 70s new wave music once again, this time at The White Horse in Bognor Regis on Saturday, October 11.

The band left a trail of also-rans behind them to become outright winners of the Melody Maker National Folk Rock Competition in 1977 – a success which prompted Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, one of the competition judges, to say 'like it or not lads, the future of rock 'n' roll is in your hands'.

Back then they lined up as Peter Macer, Robin Parker, Martin Sims and Barry Sims – the only line-up they ever had and the line-up that will be playing in Bognor.

Martin said: "Robin, Barry and myself had been in bands since the age of 14 at Chichester High School for Boys. We met Peter because the other guitarist left to go to university."

The big time beckoned when the band won Melody Maker's search for the best unsigned act in the country.

"There were heats all around the country and the final was in Croydon. At the time punk was just taking off and we were writing the songs for each round. By the time we got to the final we had a complete set."

On the back of their success, Staa Marx went on to gig extensively throughout England, Scotland and Wales, including an appearance in front of 27,000 people at the Reading Festival later that same year.

Staa Marx's last reunion gig was at the Rox festival in 1999, exactly 20 years after they had disbanded.

The band insisted it would be their one and only get-together but the support and interest they have received since this summer's private party – a celebration of Rob's and Martin's 50th birthdays – has prompted them to go back into rehearsals.

Steve Goodheart from Rox was the manager of the band throughout their three-year non-stop tour which took in hundreds of venues including such infamous London gigs as Dingwalls, The Hope and Anchor and the legendary Marquee Club.

The reunion gig coincides with the release of a box set from their label Cherry Red Records.

Martin said: "The boxed set celebrates 30 years of the label and was released this September. We have two tracks on CD 1, Crazy Weekend and Pleasant Valley Sunday, which were the A and B side of the single we released in 1978."




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